Just days before crisis talks were held over the fate of the euro public relations managers from national, regional and local governments across Europe gathered for a Brussels conference on how the public sector - in particular the EU itself - can improve its image. Michael Burton, who attended as a guest speaker, reports on the event.

If you think councils have an image problem, then just consider what the spin-doctors in Brussels are grappling with over how to sell the EU to its 500 million, increasingly sceptical citizens.